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The 13 Most Awesome Snacks at Disney World

13 in honor of the spookiness of October which has finally arrived and because 13 is the best number ever. My wedding date speaks to that- 10.13.13! And we’re talking about snacks because after our next trip to WDW, I plan to have a whole new slew of favorites thanks to the Epcot Food & Wine Festival.

Dole Whip– Can you even find a top snack list on the internet that doesn’t include this national treasure? Whether it’s on top of rum at Animal Kindgom or the original Dole Whip float from Aloha Isle or my personal favorite, the Vanilla/Pineapple twist Dole Whip float at the Polynesian. All amazing. All worth your time. I know it will probably be the first stop for my Mom when we arrive!
Carrot Cake Cookie– We said au revoir to this RIDICULOUS cookie sandwich at the Writer’s Stop at Hollywood Studios, but it’s supposedly still being sold at Sweet Spells. Thank goodness. Two soft carrot cake cookies with a cream cheese frosting center? All. Day. These have been known to make the flight back to MA on occasion because they’re so worth it.
Do you see that cream cheese frosting to cake ratio?
German Chocolate Chip Cookie– This cookie can be found at Karamell-Küche in Germany at Epcot and it was a last minute decision that I was SO glad I made! Chocolate chip and a delicious caramel drizzle? Sign me up every time.
Magic Cookie Bar– This is a fond memory from the first time we stayed at Wilderness Lodge and found this at the Roaring Fork. Buttery, chocolately, cakey, coconutty…you just have to try it. It’s like the mother of all magic cookie bars! Side note: Roaring Fork is one of my favorite quick service places. Their Mickey waffle breakfast selection is top notch and they have some amazing choices. Worth a trip over to WL, for sure.
Butterfinger Cupcake– The sparkling diamond among a bed of jewels at the Starring Rolls Café. There are so many delicious cupcakes at Starring Rolls but this heap of chocolate Butterfinger goodness just takes the cake! Just look it up. Once you see a picture, you won’t be able to resist.
Make Your Own Rice Krispies Treat– At Goofy’s Candy Co in Disney Springs, you can fill out a form with toppings selections and then watch as it is dipped and coated in toppings before your eyes. AND this counts as a snack credit! Boom roasted. My personal favorite: Milk chocolate, Oreo and dark chocolate drizzle, though the peanut butter chips might be taking over my heart!
Cinnamon Roll– Found at Gaston’s Tavern in Magic Kingdom, this is definitely one of the most absurdly big cinnamon rolls I have ever encountered. Served warmed with icing, it’s just unreal. Ask for extra icing…you will NOT be disappointed!
Starbucks– Pretty much anything on the Starbucks menu is a snack credit and it’s not a Disney trip for us unless we stop at Main Street Bakery and get our favorite drink and see that Disney logo on the Starbucks cup! Make sure to order that extra shot/Venti/Trenta that you’d ordinarily skip to maximize your snack credit value!

I happened to get a very clever Castmember when I ordered my refresher!
Troll Horn-Found at Kringla Bakeri in Norway, this flaky pastry filled with whipped cream and cloudberry jam is absolutely delicious and I actually prefer it over the famous School Bread!
Nutella Waffle Sandwich with Fruit– Though not considered a snack and large enough to be a meal, I had to include this delicacy from Sleepy Hollow in Magic Kingdom. Outrageous. Ridiculous. Absurd. Just do it.
Corn Dog Nuggets– Finally, something savory, right? Truth be told, I had never tried a corn dog before having corn dog nuggets from Casey’s Corner on Main Street, U.S.A and I am sad that I had been missing out. Bite sized perfection, these are a must-have snack!
Ganache from The Ganachery– Also not technically a snack, but this place needs to be mentioned. Located in Disney Springs, you can actually watch the ganache being made through the window and the smell is just perfection when you walk in. There are so many different flavors, it’s hard to narrow it down to the couple you actually want to try. The staff was extremely accommodating and patient and answered all of my questions. I look forward to going back this Fall to try their limited edition Fall flavors.

Worth the money and the presentation is flawless.
Any ridiculous popcorn from Karamell-Küche– This place is too good to not be mentioned twice. The store uses Werther’s caramel and for me, Werther’s brings back fond memories of my grandparent’s house when I was younger. They always had some variety of Werther’s candy in the house and looking at the wall of caramel candy/snack options when you enter the store just makes me smile. The popcorn is amazeballs. Yes, amazeballs. Chocolate drizzled, waffle cone pieces, candied nuts, you name it, there’s an option for everyone. You can also buy a freshly popped, warm bag of caramel popcorn from the counter which will never disappoint. Germany is not to be missed when you’re in Epcot!

I am certainly looking forward to trying and most likely adding a few more savory options to my list after our next trip. Namely, poutine from The Daily Poutine, crêpes from AristoCrêpes and sausage from B.B. Wolf’s Sausage Co. What fun is Disney World if you don’t have a list of “Must-Try” food? Never mind that the Food & Wine Festival food that will most likely need its own list!

What’s your favorite snack when you visit Disney? Leave a comment below and let me know!

You Don’t Need a Y-Chromosome to Play Fantasy Football

Hopefully we have a ways to go until a snowy Football Sunday

Football season has arrived. Except in New England, because football season officially starts October 2nd when the GOAT Tom Brady returns. If this sentiment displeases you, kindly X out of your browser at any time. However, if you can get past my obvious NE bias then give me an eye-roll and keep reading. Fantasy sports have taken off exponentially in recent years. All sports, seasons…you name it, there’s a fantasy league for it. But I think we can all agree that the most hype surrounds football.

Now I’m sure there are plenty of women out there who are fantasy experts and hold their own against any guy out there. I’m not writing this post to break the glass ceiling of fantasy sports for women, I’m writing as a spouse/girlfriend/collegue who has been subject to listening to the incessant chatter that starts as early as July and carries right on through into January. I have experienced sleepless nights courtesy of a fantasy matchup that would wind up being decided by 1 point. I’m looking at you here, Hubs. I’ve watched games that I would ordinarily have zero interest in just because there were a few fantasy gems playing. But after 8 years of secondhand experience, I’ve got to admit that I get invested in it. The fact that my husband plays to win actual money helps a little bit, but I find myself seemingly caring if someone like Eric Decker plays well. Did I just say that I took an interest in someone on the Jets? Lord, help me.

When the idea was presented to me to actually draft my own team this year, I felt like now is the time. Why not? So here I am, at the start of the regular season, attempting to manage not one, but 2 teams. One is a neighborhood league and the other a family league. No pressure. The only thing on the line is a bunch of chocolate bars in the family league…so I guess there’s a little pressure. My sisters are in the family league and they have surprised me by taking the whole drafting process more serious than I would have imagined. Not only have they come up with some fabulous team names, they also drafted some decent teams!

I think what has always frustrated me in the past is the assumption made by men that women have no idea who anyone is other than the celebrity, handsome, dating an actress/model, mainstream players. If they weren’t on Dancing With The Stars, I wouldn’t know them. Good thing the consensus number one pick, Antonio Brown danced last season, huh? How would I ever have known him otherwise?

Well, newsflash…we know who Aaron Rodgers is dating, how big the ring is that Russell Wilson put on Ciara’s finger, and we also know that Tony Romo sucks and Dak Prescott is the talk of the town and I know the time is now for Donte Moncrief (at least my team hopes it is).

What I’m saying is, you don’t need a Y-chromosome to be involved in these conversations. Women and men alike can enjoy, participate and actively care about football. Gone is the antiquated idea that men sit in front of the television all day Sunday. We can both do that! Fantasy Football is a great way for families and friends to have fun and oftentimes, provide a much needed distraction from life, highlighted in this Matthew Berry article. Plus, it’s always fun to have some friendly competition and trash-talking.

Now that it’s Friday and we have one game under our belts, the season has officially begun. Sunday is supposed to be a rainy day around these parts, so it’s a perfect excuse to line up the appetizers and kick back. There’s sure to be some breakout performances that will lead people scrambling to pick up rookies we never thought would see the turf and there is sure to be a lot of talk surrounding the National Anthem, the Seahawks have made sure of that.

So I bid you adieu and say good luck and hopefully we make it through relatively unscathed! And I leave you with this picture and as the great Roberto Gronkowski once said, “Yo Soy Fiesta!”

Disney with an Infant- It Can Be Done!

Smack in the middle of the first 100 days of darkness with our daughter, as bleary-eyed and sleep-deprived parents, my husband and I decided to keep our previously booked trip to Walt Disney World. Before MGM was born, we envisioned how simple it would be to tote around an 8 week old. We scoured the Internet for proof that others had traversed the waters before us in the parks, searched for airplane ride tips and tricks- we felt prepared.

Fast forward to week 3 at home as new parents, with a bad case of colic, constant screaming and no sleep…

Can we get our money back? Crap. We already bought flights. It’ll be okay. No, this is going to be terrible! Ultimately, we came to terms with the fact that we were going to make the trip. My baby illiterate sister (she’s so much better now!) decided to accompany us and our motto became, “A bad day in Disney is better than a bad day at home.” We live in MA, so it was cold and dark and dreary and the sunshine of Florida is what we needed.

So what did we learn? Here are my top ten tips for Disney with a very tiny human:

Extra hands are always helpful. Whether it’s baby-capable hands or just an extra set of adult hands, they are always put to good use. Especially as a first time parent, we had no idea what we were doing and to have someone to hold the stroller on a bus or stay with a sleeping baby in a stroller so Mom and Dad can go on a ride or run to the bathroom…the help is always appreciated.
Utilize the Baby Care Centers. Each of the parks has a Baby Care Center. We used each of them, some multiple times. They are stocked with any baby supplies you may have forgotten and need to purchase and there are also changing tables and nursing rooms. Each center also has a main area with a TV and seating to feed babies and children or keep siblings occupied while parents tend to the baby. Not all Baby Care Centers are created equal. DHS definitely had the smallest and least accessible center. AK was enormous and surprisingly empty when we were there. Epcot was sizeable and quiet, away from the hustle and bustle whereas MK (understandably) consistently had the most commotion. I was surprised to find the center at MK to be only slightly larger than DHS given the foot traffic the park sees. I’ll be interested to see if this gets an expansion or moves to a different location in the future.
Throw plans out the window. If you are accustomed to jam-packed Disney vacations filled with Fast Passes and Park Hoppers, you’re going to need to slow your role. It’s just not going to happen. Tiny humans run the show. We got caught offguard a couple times when we tried to do too much and ended up with a meltdown. I’d suggest making a very loose timeline of how you’d like your day to go and maybe just pick a few must-do attractions rather than trying to see everything. Once you slow down, it’s actually very enjoyable and I found myself noticing things I would have breezed by in the past and we even rode a few rides that we had never been on because they were tucked away.
Take advantage of Rider Switch. Even though we were planning on a more low-key vacation compared to our previous trips, we still wanted to make sure we hit our favorites like Expedition Everest and Mine Train. This is where Rider Switch and that extra set of hands came in handy. Ideally, Rider Switch works for a family of 4 where one child is not tall enough or does not want to ride and then each parent gets the opportunity to ride with the child who can ride. For our party of 3 adults and 1 infant, 2 of us would go scan our Fast Pass and explain to the Cast Member that one person in our party was waiting with the baby and request the Rider Switch. We were then presented with a ticket which allowed two of us to go back to the ride later that day and give the 3rd person a chance to ride. Not all rides have this option so make sure to check the Disney website to plan!
Carve out time to return to the hotel midday. Naps are essential!! For a baby, for exhausted parents…everyone loves naps. In order to do our best to avoid evening meltdowns, a solid afternoon nap back in the A/C was just what we needed. I also needed to return to the room to pump so our retreat served a dual purpose. We always felt refreshed and ready to tackle more adventures after our midday respite.
Have baby supplies mailed to the hotel with Amazon Prime. Clutch. I had diapers and wipes sent to the hotel front desk under our name a few days before our trip. We called the front desk and gave them a heads up and they assured us they would put the boxes aside for us. When we arrived, our packages were waiting for us in our room and we didn’t need to waste space in our suitcase with lots of diapers. Fast forward to planning for our next trip this fall, I’ll be ordering snacks and veggie packs for our daughter in addition to diapers.
Bring your own stroller (and baby carrier) and use something to identify it quickly. This is purely personal preference. I found it much easier to push a stroller through the airport, and the gate check process was very simple. We found the entire airport process to go relatively smoothly and the airport and security employees were very accommodating and kind. We never felt rushed or flustered which was a huge worry of mine prior to the trip. It was awesome to be able to walk off the plane and plunk MGM down in the stroller and not worry about figuring out the best rental and how to get it. We had enough to worry about at that point that it was helpful to use equipment we were already familiar with. It was also very helpful that I tied a bright pink ribbon on the handle of our City Mini GT. There were approximately a zillion other City Minis parked in stroller parking and it made it very easy to find our stroller by looking for the ribbon. Also, bring a baby carrier! It makes going on rides a breeze. MGM napped through her first safari and had the poop (literally) scared out of her on Haunted Mansion! Memories, folks, memories.
Request a 1st floor room to avoid elevators. Credit to my husband for this one. He made a point to request a 1st floor room in our initial reservation at Wilderness Lodge. When we arrived, there was slight dismay as we had been given a room on the 4th floor. However, Wilderness Lodge was very understanding and accommodating and changed our room fairly quickly to one on the 1st floor. We just found it to be much easier to not have to deal with elevators.
Request a Pack N Play for the room. I don’t know why I was surprised by this, but obviously Disney is all about families and optimizing their guest’s stay so the availability of Pack N Plays is a no brainer. Just remember to request one. If not, one can be brought down to your room. However, I would think that during high traffic times that the availability of a Pack N Play is a little tighter, so do yourself a favor and add it to your reservation from the get go.
Have fun, make memories and start new traditions. Probably the most important tip on the list. This is a vacation to Disney World…ENJOY IT! Babies can accompany you on so many rides so don’t feel like someone always has to be left out while everyone else rides. Use that baby carrier and take them with you! You’ll look back and be glad you were all together. I look forward to recreating the same family picture with the castle in the same spot every time we go back so we can watch our family grow and can’t wait to experience the magic of Disney through our daughter’s eyes!

I’ll have to write an updated list for Disney World with a One Year Old after our next trip! See ya real soon!

September 1st- A Pumpkin Spice Addict’s New Year

September 1st has become the unofficial start to Fall for all of the Pumpkin Spice lovers out there. We haven’t even passed Labor Day, but as of today, all of us who have been drinking Pumpkin Spice iced coffee from Dunkin Donuts since mid-August can finally stop getting eye rolls and looks of disgust from all the haters. We can rejoice because the flavor of Fall is now plastered in advertising everywhere we look! The elusive and mysterious PSL from Starbucks even made its 2016 debut today. My Dad jokes that the only thing I need to complete my obsession is Pumpkin Spice toilet paper…he’s not wrong. But pumpkin spice aside, September’s arrival also means that football, apple picking, scarves and boots, and foliage are right around the corner!

I figured today would be an appropriate day to start writing on this blog again. As a PSA (Pumpkin Spice Addict), New Year’s is a time for resolutions, so reinventing this blog is my resolution. I’m not sure I can turn it from a pumpkin into a carriage à la Cinderella, but I can sure try.

So much has changed since my last post in January 2015. Unbeknownst to many, we were in the throes of infertility and seeing countless doctors and blood work and ultrasounds. We booked a last minute vacation to our favorite place, Walt Disney World, in an attempt to get away from all of the stress and worry the previous 6+ months had brought us. In what I would call Divine Intervention, a few weeks later we learned I was pregnant! So clearly all of THAT and the product of my pregnancy, a beautiful, colicky, perfect daughter…have been occupying my time away from the blogosphere. Side note: Does this make me a mommy blogger now? 😂

So what will this blog be about now that I’m a mom? Well, there will be some elements from before, such as subscription box reviews, but I’m thinking about talking a bit more about life as a new mom, Disney World vacations with a little one and other random things along the way!

My main inspiration for dusting off the writing cobwebs is my husband. He has recently started blogging, on the side, in addition to oh you know…working a full time job, commuting on the train at least 3 hours a day, and still managing be very much present in our daughter’s life whenever and as much as he can. His blog is called Work.Life.Finance and is a play off of the ever elusive idea of work/life balance we all strive to find, but with a strong focus on his forté…Finance.

Do me a favor and check it out. You won’t be disappointed! If he wasn’t so good at his own Work.Life.Finance, our family would never be able to quench our Disney World thirst with frequent vacations and still manage to save and pay the bills!

Now please excuse me, I need to go enlighten my 9 month old in the ways of the Pumpkin Spice. We’re already working on her #BasicBaby status with the Pumpkin Cheerios….might be too early for her first PSL, though. Until next time, my fellow Pumpkinheads!

January 2015 Birchbox Review

2015! I’ve been a Birchbox subscriber for an entire year! 2014 flew by and 2015 is a clean slate that’s ready for a new adventure! Birchbox actually had 3 boxes to choose from this month, 2 boxes were curated and filled with particular products and the 3rd option was your good ol’ BB with products picked based on your profile. I opted for the 3rd choice mostly because I had received a fair few of the curated boxes samples and none were things I wanted to get again. The theme this month is Let’s Do This! A great way to get started on the right foot in the new year.

The box this month is very pretty and Birchbox announced that every month’s box would be themed and they hinted to hang on to your boxes every month this year!! I love the special boxes from the previous year. They remind me of the beautiful designs of the Limited Edition boxes and I can always find something to fill them with around the house!

Anyways, let’s take a look at what I got this month. I opted to not go with one of the sample choices either this month so I got 5 surprises!

Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream
This is a BB Exclusive! Very good size sample. I believe it is half of the full size and the full size costs $38 so the value of this item is worth more than the entire box. It’s very lightweight and goes on smooth. I’m excited to have a new eye cream.

Curly Hair Solutions Curl Keeper Gel
At first glance, I wasn’t totally psyched about this sample because it’s a cardboard pouch of gel. However, I used it this morning and it smells great and actually does a great job of keeping my hair curly. It’s not crunchy which is a definite plus!

Essential Elements Wake Up Rosemary Body Lotion
Mehhhhh. I’m sick of getting body lotion. It’s a pretty large sample and it smells nice but I’m not overjoyed in the abundance of body cream that I’ve received the past few months.

Miracle Skin Transformer Treat & Conceal Eye & Face
I have heard quite a bit about the Miracle Skin Transformer brand so I was very excited to see this in my box. It’s a pretty small tube but it is filled to the brim and you really only need a tiny amount to get the job done so I have a feeling this will last me awhile.

theBalm Stainiac
My sister has been raving about this product since she received it in her first Birchbox and a year later, I received it in mine! While this can be used as a cheek or a lip stain, I will use it solely for my cheeks. I’ve used it for the past 3 days and I love it. It’s a nice pop of color, goes on very easily and is a generous sample size! I love theBalm so I’m happy to add this to my collection.

Well that’s it! Overall, I’m happy with this box and 2015 has started on the right foot. I have a couple orders coming from BB this week, one being the new Fresh Start Limited Edition box, so make sure to watch out for that review! We’re midway through the month so make sure to check out birchbox.com/challenge to participate in the January 31-Day Challenge! They have some great prizes all month!

And if you are looking to start your own Birchbox collection, check out my referral link here!

Birchbox Review- December 2014

I am happy to report that my Birchbox arrived just in time for me to take my goodies with me to sunny Florida so I could properly try them out. I was getting bored trying these things up North. The boxes for December are a beautiful blue with gold accents which only makes it feel more luxurious and more like I was opening an early Christmas present!

So what did I get?

Acure Organics Lip Lush in Date Worthy
Honestly, I’ve tried Acure Organics products in the past and I’ve enjoyed them. I saw this lip gloss was one of the products going out this month and honestly I was excited because one of the colors showcased was Birthday Suit, a nice nude/clear and I was hoping that I would get to try it out. I was disappointed to see that I received Date Worthy. A darker pigmented gloss which honestly I won’t use. I barely ever use any gloss with color and actually, 3 out of the past 4 months of Birchbox included a lip stain or lip stick in bold colors that, (while I understand it’s a sample and Birchbox wants us to try new things, but…) I’ll never use it. I rated this 3 items horribly in hopes that I would received fewer items such as this in the future.

For the hell of it, I emailed customer service at Birchbox and let them in on how I was feeling, I explained that it wasn’t truly a complaint because I wasn’t looking for anything in exchange and I will continue to spend boatloads of money on their site. I will continue to blog about them and like every Instagram, Twitter and Facebook post. I just wanted to know if I could change something in my Beauty profile so it would limit these outrageous colors that end up getting tossed. To make a long story longer, Birchbox got back to me, a little later than usual but I was on vacation and forgot about even sending the message. They explained that they want us to push our boundaries, blah blah blah but then also said that they were sending me the Acure Organics gloss in Birthday Suit!! Whaaaaaat. TOTALLY not expecting that and it further solidifies that they have some of the best customer service out there. Okay so how did I like this sample? I dunno. I’ll let you know when I get home!

Dr. Jart+ Black Label Detox BB Beauty Balm
I don’t have a long story about this. My Marcelle BB sample is running out so this will slide in nicely. A little goes a long way!

RUSK Texture Spray
I was so praying I got to try this!!! Love it. Love the smell and love that it actually gives my hair some volume. Just make sure you don’t spray a lot on a concentrated area of hair.

SeaRX Anti-Wrinkle Facial Lift Treatment Serum
Nice cute pink tube but the tube is very close to empty. Not many uses so I can’t tell ya if it really works.

Vasanti Cosmetics Kajal Extreme Intense Eye Pencil in Rose Gold
This was my sample choice for December. I got a blue Vasanti eyeliner in the Mermaid Limited Edition Box and loved it so I figured why not try this out. I love Rose Gold anyways and hey Birchbox…I’m stepping out of my comfort zone here…but I’m happy to report I really like the color and it goes on super smooth. Also a generous size sample!

Side note: every subscriber received a $10 gift code to the Gap! Score. I love when they team up with awesome companies.

Overall, decent box…beautiful box, decent samples. I’d say I’m happy to renew my annual subscription at the end of the month. It’s been a great year with BB and they only keep improving!!

December 2014- Target Beauty Box

Every so often, Target releases their Beauty Box. In the past, I’ve only seen one box offered for five dollars. This time around however, there were 3 options to choose from. A five and a ten dollar option for women and a five dollar box for the men. I chose the lower end option for women and a men’s box for my husband!

First, the women’s box had a theme, it was full of natural beauty products. Every box contained the same six samples and every box comes with a coupon for $3 off of a $15 purchase of natural beauty products from Target. Each box came with the following:

SoapBox Argan Shampoo
Love the smell of this and it’s a decent sized sample. This one is going right into my suitcase for vacation! This is a Target Exclusive item.

Skinfix Hand Repair Cream
This is a Target Exclusive product as well. Another good sized sample that will last for awhile. This is a thick hand cream but it’s not greasy and it absorbs pretty quickly. Definitely will come in HAND-y (see what I did there??) during what is sure to be another polar vortex filled winter.

Burt’s Bees Facial Wipes
Who doesn’t love Burt’s Bees? This is a ten wipe package with a white tea scent. And right into the suitcase for this one, as well!

SheaMoisture Coconut Hibiscus Smoothie
Well, the product name sounds much more enticing than it actually is. This is a hair cream that’s meant for curly hair to help restore moisture and shine and condition curls. The scent sounds like it would be intoxicating, however I found it to be headache-provoking.

Borghese Age Defying Facial Scrub
Yet another Target Exclusive, this scrub is meant to be a gentle clarifying formula that restores the skin’s “radiant glow.” Haven’t tried it yet, so the jury is out.

Acure Organics Facial Cleanser
I am generally a fan of Acure Organics products, having received them in multiple Birchboxes, so I assume this will be no different. Another generous sample which will accompany me to the Happiest Place on Earth.

Well that’s it for the women’s box. Next up for the men. The men’s box comes in a slightly bigger black box as opposed to the women’s white box, both with the same festive design. The men’s product card contains 2 coupons. One for 20% Men’s Apparel and Accessories and another for $3 off $15, similar to the women’s coupon. I feel a bit slighted. Anywho, here’s what came in the box:

AXE Peace Shower Gel
Claims to be a scent of citrus, cedar wood and amber. I like it. Not overpowering like most of the AXE products I’ve come in contact with.

Gilette ProGlide FlexBall Razor
Now this looks like a nice razor. Not that my darling husband would ever shave his beard (I’d have serious issues with that), but he said it looked like a quality razor that he would use to just clean his beard up with.

Proraso Shaving Cream
A product my husband received in a Birchbox Man subscription awhile back. He approves. Formula is a combo of eucalyptus, menthol and shea butter.

Neutrogena Men Invigorating Face Wash
This is another great product for vacation. No complaints.

Dove Men+Care Dry Deodorant Spray
Claims to have 48 hour protection. We will just see about that. Seems like a cool concept for a product and this may be a full size sample! It’s huge!

Old Spice Swagger
2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner. I like the scent and this is a travel sized sample so it will also be making a journey.

So that’s it! Overall, these are great boxes. I wish Target offered them more frequently. I would be all over a Target subscription box. I love that place. Keep your eyes peeled for the next one!

Birchbox Home Sweet Homespun Limited Edition Box Review

Ever since this box was announced, I immediately wanted it, but for once in my life, I exercised some restraint and waited until Black Friday so I could get 25% off and use points. Totally worth the wait. Can I just say…all of Birchbox’s limited edition boxes are beautiful. I find ways to reuse them around the house because they are so pretty and this is no exception.

Upon opening the box, I found their classic crinkle confetti and product cards, in addition to some idea cards regarding the items in the box and honestly, you’d be able to buy this box and give it as a gift without even wrapping it because it’s so well done. I’m keeping my eye on the Vanity Affair box too because that one looks LUXE!

So now for a run down of the products:

momofuku milk bar Cornflake-Chocolate-Chip-Marshmallow Cookie Mix
Don’t these just sound amazing? Uhhh yeah. I haven’t made them yet but I’ll keep you posted.

Soak Handmaid Luxury Hand Creme
Fig scented lotion. Could be good, could go horribly wrong. Pleased to report I’m obsessed with this smell and its a nice non-greasy formula.

Makerskit Hanging Photo Clips Complete Project Kit
I’m picturing a little arts and crafts with this using some Disney pictures!

Meri Meri The Little Garden Treat Kit
A nice package of gift tags with cute sayings on them. Luckily these aren’t all holiday themed and can be used throughout the year.

Askinosie Chocolate Single Origin Sipping Chocolate
Looks like a decadent cup of hot chocolate coming my way. I’m pretty excited to try this!

Cowshed Lippy Cow Natural Lip Balm
A good moisturizing lip balm and I’m pleased that there’s no tint to it. Too often I’m plagued with lip stains and ridiculous colored glosses in my Birchboxes so this is a welcome change.

Richer Poorer Socks
Wore them yesterday and I love ’em. So comfy and great pattern. Give me 3 more pairs please.

Illume Mini Tin Soy Candle
Well….I like the idea. I do enjoy the idea of a candle but this scent is Noble Currant and I don’t love it. Maybe I’ll feel different about it when I actually burn it but it’s not my ideal scent.

And that’s that for the Home Sweet Homespun box. Truthfully, I can be convinced that I need just about any of the Birchbox Limited Edition boxes. This is definitely one of the better ones. I think my favorite is still the In Full Bloom box but the boxes that mix in home items as well are always tempting!

Birchbox Book Club-December 2014

I am here with a special news bulletin. Shortly before 11 o’clock this morning, I received an email stating that I had won a copy of the December Birchbox Book of the Month and it would be shipping shortly!

This month’s book is actually a cookbook! Homemade Decadance by Joy the Baker!

I fully admit that I am not the greatest baker in the world, mostly because I hate having to actually measure things when I cook but from the titles of a few of the recipes in this book…I think may need to make an exception. Stay tuned for an official review once the book arrives!!

A special thank you to Birchbox! You will be able to get this book free with any $55 purchase on Birchbox!

P.S. I just wanted you to know I definitely said BOOMSHAKALAKA when I read the email!
http://youtu.be/bhI1GumsXEg

December…..already??

I know I’m going to sound like my parents right now, but honestly, where has the time gone? I’ve been absent on here for quite a few months but I think it’s time to get rolling again. While I am not going to be posting religiously for the gym anymore, I would like to try to get back into writing some posts that touch on a little bit of everything…life, fitness, CHRISTMAS, work, my seemingly endless obsession with subscription boxes and anything in between!

First, we will start with fitness. Yesterday was December 1st and scrolling absentmindedly through Instagram I came upon a #30for30 challenge. If you join, you vow to do 30 minutes of exercise for 30 days in a row. Honestly, I’ve fallen off the bandwagon. Between finishing up the TBT at the gym on not the greatest terms, coinciding with Zumba classes ending and not restarting and the plethora of delicious fall foods, beverages and football game appetizers…I’ve lost my way a bit. I was so stringent and so good for so long that I just broke. I saw the pumpkin donut and I ate it! So anywho, I saw this challenge and thought that it would be a fantastic way for me to get going again. Happy to report that I joined and my wonderful mother (who is in much better shape than I am) joined as well. The hashtag to follow for this challenge is #getleanby2015 in case anyone was curious! Even though I’ll be in Disney soon…I think I’ll definitely be able to get in the exercise on vacation!

Which brings me to my next talking point…Disney World! I’ve never been and I am as excited as I was on Christmas Eve when I was 5. I’m sure I won’t be able to sleep even if I wanted to the night before we leave. Disney…at Christmastime?? I can’t even fathom it! I can’t wait to take zillions of pictures so you can witness the magic from the comfort of your iPhone! Any tips and tricks would be welcome!!

I may as well also get back on the Birchbox review train as well, while we have the time! December Birchboxes look like they will be awesome and we have a $10 credit to Gap on the way too which is an amazing collaboration but I suppose I’ll let you know about my November box!

During the month of November, Birchbox collaborated with (RED) to support an AIDS Free Generation and with every tweet or FB post or IG picture posted of your November box with the #shaRED, Birchbox donated a dollar to the cause. Very cool. So what did I get? Lemme tell ya….

amika Nourishing Mask
Smells pretty good, I enjoyed their dry shampoo from October’s box and I’m looking forward to trying this beauty out. Decent sample size as well!

Cynthia Rowley Beauty Creamy Lip Stain in Heartthrob
Eh. Not my favorite. I’m a good ol’ chapstick/lip gloss gal. Not very good at pulling off a bold lip. My deranged Elf on the Shelf delivered this to my mother. You’re welcome.

Gilchrist & Soames Spa Therapy Body Lotion
My husband took this one with him to combat the winter on his dainty hands (I’ll pay for that comment later 🙂 ) but honestly I feel like I’ve received a billion of these hotel toiletries at this point. Moving on….

theBalm cosmetics Cindy-Lou Manizer
Anything from theBalm comes in the coolest packaging and this is no exception. Very cool, very on trend and a hot commodity in the BB community, I think. I’m still working on making it look like I know what I’m supposed to do with it…

Royal Apothic Cuppa Cuppa Tea Firming Tea Treatment Mask
This was my sample choice for November and honestly I loved it. Smells great and gives you a great face to Snapchat in the 7 minutes you have it on, which is always a bonus. I got a couple uses out of the one tube as well which was a plus!

Dang Coconut Chips
Dang. These things are GOOOOOD. So good that I’ve already purchased 2 more bags since I received my box. These were an extra item in the box and I could not have been more appreciative of that!

Well that is all for now. I’m patiently awaiting my recent Black Friday Birchbox order, 25% off, free shipping and used my BB points? Yeah. That’s what I call a deal! Much is in store in the next few weeks….I just love December!!